Set Design: Build Atmosphere with Authentic Antiques | Bygone Times

Do you work in theatre, advertising, TC or film?

Whether you’re dressing a Victorian street for a period drama, styling a mid-century flat for a TV advert or building a concept stage in the West End, you’ll only be too aware that it’s crucial to source authentic antiques, memorabilia, collectables and vintage accessories to bring fantasy or history to life; the devil is in the detail.

In the challenging, often magical world of theatre, film, TV and advertising, it’s authenticity that bridges the gap between a set and an immersive world, appealing to all of the viewers’ senses to create an unforgettable experience. Whilst a prop may do the job in the background, a genuine, storied object with its own history and character transforms the space and ignites the screen, taking actors, directors and producers to the next level.

Bygone Times, home to over 500 independent stallholders and local businesses, selling everything from antiques and collectables to vintage, historical equipment, tools, homewares, electricals and much, much more, is your secret weapon. Transform your director’s vision or a challenging brief into a functional, atmospheric environment at Lancashire’s leading antiques centre.

Not Just Props – Real Antiques, Real History

Bygone Times don’t offer hollow replicas and contemporary mass-produced tat – Bygone Times stalls offer genuine, functional and authentic goods from across the centuries to bring your set to life and encapsulate a moment in time.

Whether you’re looking for something specific, or fill and entire set, Bygone Times is the best in the North-West for antiques and collectables.

• Victorian & Edwardian: Furniture, tools, curiosities, branded packaging & imageries
• Mid-Century Modern: Iconic silhouettes, retro tech and appliances, vibrant textiles
• The Eclectic & Odd: Character pieces and centrepieces to create a background that feels authentic and ‘lived-in’

Why Set Designers Choose Bygone Times

Regularly visited by experienced set designers and producers from across film and TV, Bygone Times understand the high-pressure world of production, and how dynamic staff need to be to succeed across major production companies and media projects.

Bygone Times is built for set designers to roam and discover.

Huge Facility, Over 500 Stallholders

With thousands of square feet to discover, including the newly expanded Bygone 6, Bygone Times allows set designers to source pieces for single niche shots, fill out a set on screen or on stage, or fill an entire warehouse in one enjoyable, charming and informative trip!

Budget-Friendly Items for Set Design

There’s never been a more competitive time for production companies and broadcasters – we know that production budgets are tighter than ever. Bygone Times offers antiques, collectables, memorabilia and vintage undiscovered gems to achieve high-production value at a fraction of the cost of retrospectively engineering goods.

Convenience

Based in the heart of historic Lancashire, Bygone Times is easily accessible from major Northern media hubs like Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, and is just off the M6 for visitors from Edinbrugh, London, Birmingham and beyond, offering one-stop shop for art directors and buyers.

Why Real Antiques Make The Difference on Set or on Stage

Whilst modern fabrication can be incredible, and AI-generated imagery and production is accelerating, there is a certain soul and physics to real antiques that digital and synthetic recreations just cannot match. From the sound of the metal clinks or real wood, to the antique door with the heavy iron latch, with micro-textures and wearing, nothing paints a picture of emphasises emotion and authenticity like real antiques.

The Set Designer’s Sourcing Guide for Bygone Times

Production	Aesthetic	Bygone Times Items
Victorian & Edwardian Period Dramas	Opulent, dark woods, heavy textures, social hierarchy & luxury	Dressing tables, tea sets, grandfather clocks
WW2/1940s Noir	Gritty, functional, utilitarian and nostalgic	Military uniforms, relics and memorabilia, gas masks, 1940s kitchenware & homeware
Mid-Century	Teak, lighter woods, sleek lines, colours, space-age optimism and imagery	G-Plan, Ercol furniture, rotary phones, early television sets & appliances
Industrial & Steampunk	Raw metal, gears, machine age equipment, workshop functionalism	Factory carts, machinist tool chests, brass gauges, cast-iron vises
Man Cave	Curated clutter, personal character driven, hyper-personalised belongings	Vintage advertising and branded signs, sports memorabilia, old-school arcade machines